Hello everyone, how are you doing?
It has become much warmer during the day, but please take care not to catch a cold as it is still chilly at night.
Now, today I would like to introduce the latest works by Mr. Takashi Soga, which have just been taken out of the kiln.
When I have introduced his work in the past, I hope you have been able to sense his strong commitment to his clay.
Mr. Soga consistently holds the belief that "if the base material, the clay, is not good, one cannot fire good pieces,"
and he strives to pursue the character of the old Bizen ware that he so deeply longs for.
To that end, he completely eliminates modern kiln tools and electronic devices,
recreating the environment of ancient potters through his own ingenuity.
Perhaps the most distinctive aspect of this is that he does not use "refractory bricks" at all.
Refractory bricks, by their nature of reflecting heat, dramatically increase the thermal efficiency inside a kiln on their own.
Because he does not use these convenient bricks, even in a relatively small kiln,
he is forced to manage the firing process patiently, as the kiln can be quite temperamental.
Furthermore, the kiln itself is like a giant piece of pottery made of clay,
and as the firing progresses, the kiln itself is fired and changes in complex ways.
Because he battles with the flames barehanded, I believe that is why one can discover a different expression in every firing.
This time, the focus has shifted toward creating sweeter, softer scenery,
resulting in pieces where the rustic flavor of mountain clay is accented with the perfect scarlet hue of rice-field clay.
It features the simple redness found in Momoyama-period old Bizen—not underfired, but a true, well-fired scarlet.
These new pieces possess both the strength and the softness characteristic of Bizen ware, so please take a look.
Beyond their visual appeal, the scenery and texture reminiscent of old Bizen offer the joy of growing and maturing the pieces through frequent use.
Tokkuri (Sake Bottle)
A soft scarlet hue exists in natural continuity from the well-fired skin.
The bottom is also thoroughly fired, and it takes on an exquisite appearance when wet.
Hyotokkuri (Gourd-shaped Sake Bottle)
The presence of stone-like, hard-fired clay and a meltingly fresh scarlet hue coexist here.
You can fully enjoy the "scarlet hue fired through to the core," a characteristic of these new works.
Sake Cup 1
This sake cup fulfills the dream of wanting to drink sake from an old Bizen vessel.
The "scarlet hue fired through to the core" appears in the interior, making it interesting to compare with the scenery on the outside.
Sake Cup 2
This is a kiln-transformed (yohen) sake cup in Mr. Soga's style.
The faintly yellowish clay texture creates a powerful surface overflowing with rustic charm.
Kobuku-wan (Small Versatile Bowl)
This is a small versatile bowl, a new challenge for the artist this time.
Because it is a small bowl intended for any use, great care was taken with its texture during firing.
If you touch it with your eyes closed, it feels as if you are holding an old Bizen jar in your hands.
(Takashi Soga / Various New Works)
Tokkuri size: Dia 8.6cm × Dia 8.5cm × Height 13.9cm price: Sold
Hyotokkuri size: Dia 8.4cm × Dia 8.2cm × Height 15.7cm price: Sold
Sake Cup 1 size: Dia 6.8cm × Dia 6.9cm × Height 5.7cm price: Sold
Sake Cup 2 size: Dia 6.7cm × Dia 6.6cm × Height 5.7cm price: Sold
Kobuku-wan size: Dia 10.0cm × Dia 9.7cm × Height 7.8cm price: Sold *There is slight wobbling
For detailed images of the works, please contact us below.
Tel 0869-67-2210 Fax 0869-67-2220
Email to Kawaguchi Tourakuen (Click to open email composition screen)